Electrical lighting set for christmas trees or the like



ELECTRICAL LIGHTING SET FOR CHRISTMAS TREES OR THE LIKE Filed July 2,1930 v 9 m W Q Q 1. 4 4 L I v J ,V, :1 C .i I C ,1 r m h v M 9 k N 1, Wm a c. JLL. 'ZZJEZ?6 2 MiW dzraroz Patented Feb. 2, 1932 PATENT OFFICECARL .1. L. FI'sonEa, or CLEVELAND, oHIo ELECTRTGAL LIGHTING SET FORCHRISTMAS TREES OR THE LIKE Application filed July 2,

My invention relates to an electrical light- 7 ing set for Christmastrees or the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a set of the abovementioned character, embodying any suitable number of units of varyingdiameters, corresponding to the cone or taper of the tree.

A further object of the invention is to provide-an electrical lightingset of the above mentioned character, embodying units which may bereadily separated and assembled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a branch connector whichbodily carries the radial conductors holding the same from slipping sothat a selected length or diameter may be maintained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovementioned character which is extremely simple in construction, cheapto'manufacturqand safe and convenient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

5 In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,and in which like numerals are employed to designate like partsthroughout the. same,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of one of the units, parts removed forthe purpose of illustration,

Figure 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the branchconnector, and,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a plurality 5 of units connected inseries for providing the lighting set. i

The lighting set embodies any suitable number of units A, B and (3.Three of these units have been shown for the purpose of illustration.The units preferably decrease in diameter upwardly to correspond to-thetaper or cons of the tree.

Each unit embodies a branch connector including a block or body portion5, formed of insulating material. This block, which is ordinarilyvertically arranged,'has openings or sockets 6, formed therein extendingdownwardly from the top of the same. These sockets receive resilientmetal contacts 7, the

lower ends of which pass through slots 8 and 1930. Serial No. 465,416,

are held therein. Wires 9 are connected with the-lower ends of thecontacts 7 and pass through branches 10 of a main opening 11, formed ina cap 12 of insulating material.

This cap is rigidly clamped upon the lower end of the block 5 by acentral bolt 13 or any other suitable means, as shown. The oppositeends-of the wires 9 have connection. with a plug 14, embodying plugelements 15, as shown.

Generally radially disposed pairs of wires 16 and 17 are connected withtheterminals of sockets 18, receiving electrical bulbs 19.. The end wire16, -is. electrically connected with one contact and the end wire 17 isconnected with the other contact 7. The remaining wires 17 arecontinuous with the adjacent wires '16. The block or body portion 5 isprovided near its bottom and upon its periphery with longitudinalnotches 20, in communicationwith an annular groove 21. The continuousinner ends of the wires 16 and 17, excepting the end wires 16 and 17,pass through the notches 20 and are looped or engaged behind'teeth orlugs22 formed by the notches. The end wires 16 and 17 pass through thenotches 20 and are attached to the contacts 7, as explained; Due to thefact that the wires 16 and 17 are sharply bent about the lugs 22, thereis no tendency 30 for the wires to shift or slide longitudinally withrespect to the body portion 5, whereby the selected radial lengths ofthese wires remain constant when in use. Due to the fact that the wires16 and 17 are loosely mounted 7 within the space 21, behind the lugs andin the spaces-20 between the lugs, it is obvious that by shifting thewires inwardly slightly with relation to the lugs, such wires may thenbe readily moved longitudinally with relation to the lugs, and, hence,the length of the wires may be adjusted.

In view of the foregoin description, it will be seen that all of theulbs 19 in each unit are connected in series. The plug elements 15 ofthe plug 14 are adaptedto be inserted in a floor plug or the like, whilethe next higher set is inserted into the sockets 6 and engage thecontacts 7, whereby current is supplied to the bulbs in the next unit.

It is thus seen that any number of units may be used and connectedtogether in series, and the generally radial wires in the several unitsvary in diameter and preferably decrease in diameter, upwardlycorresponding to the taper or cone of the tree. The branch connectorbodily carries and supports all of the generally radial wires renderingit convenient to locate the branch connector near the trunk of the tree,leading the wires generally radially along the branches.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown anddescribed, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts, may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A branch connectorcomprising an insulating body portion provided with plug receivingrecesses extending through one end of the same, contacts passing throughthe opposite end of the insulating body portion and extending into saidrecesses, lead wires connected with the contacts, a plug connected withthe lead wires, a set of spaced longitudinal lugs formed upon saidopposite end of the insulating body portion and completely surroundingsaid contacts, said lugs afiording spaces therebetween, wire meanshaving portions bent to form branches, the inner ends of the branchesbeing continuous, said continuous inner ends extending through thespaces and engaging behind the lugs, the free ends of said wire beingconnected with the contacts, electric bulb sockets connected in serieswith said branches, a cap having opening means for the passage of thelead wires and mounted upon said opposite end of said insulating bodyportion and abutting the free ends of said lugs for loosely retainingthe inner continuous ends of sad branches behind said lugs, the arranement bein such said branches may be reat lily adjuste with relation tosaid lugs to vary their length, and means for attaching the cap to thebody portion.

2. A branch connector comprising a substantially cylindrical insulatingbody portion provided with plug receiving recesses extendmg through oneend of the same, contacts extending through the opposite end of theinsulating body portion and projecting into the plug receiving recesses,an annular set of spaced longitudinal lugs formed upon said opposite endof the insulating bod portion and affording spaces between the ugs, saidannular set of lugs surrounding the contacts, lead wires connected tothe contacts, a plug connected to the lead wires, wire means having itsopposite ends connected with Said contacts, the wire means being bent toprovide branches, the inner ends of the branches being continuous andextending throu h the spaces and engaging behind the space lugs,electric bulb sockets connected in series in said branches, a cap havingopenin means formed generally centrally thereof or the passage of thelead wires, and mounted upon sald opposite end of the insulating bodyportion to cover the ends of the spaces between the lugs and abuttingthe free ends of the lugs to loosely retain the continuous inner ends ofsaid branches behind said lugs, the arrangement'being such that thebranches may be adjusted with respect to the lugs to vary their length,and means operable from the firstnamed end of the insulating bodyportion for holding the cap upon said bodylportion.

3. A branch connector, comprising an insulating body portion havingrecesses extending through one end of the same for receiving plugelements, an annular set of spaced lugs formed upon the opposite end ofthe insulating body portion, contacts extending through said oppositeend of the insulating body portion and leading into said recesses andbeing surrounded by said spaced lugs, lead wires connected with thecontacts, wire means having the ends thereof connected with saidcontacts, said wire means having portions forming branches, the innerortions of the branches being continuous an en aging behind thelugs, acap mounted upon t e said opposite end of the insulating body portionand abutting the free ends of the spaced lugs to loosely retain theinner continuous portions of the branches behind said lugs, thearrangement being such that the branches may be readily adjusted withrelation to the lugs to vary their length, and electric bulb socketsconnected with the branches.

4. A branch connector comprising an insulating body portion provided inone end with plug receiving recesses and at its opposite end with asurrounding set of spaced lugs and recess means behind the lugs,contacts carried by the body portion and leading into the recesses, leadwires connected with the contacts, wire means having its ends connectedwith the contacts and having portions thereof forming branches, theinner portions of the branches being continuous and engaging behind thelugs to operate within the spaces between the lugs and the recess meansbehind the lugs, a cap mounted upon the said opposite end of the bodyportion and abutting the spaced lugs to loosely retain the branchesbehind the same, the arrangement being such that the branches may beadjusted with respect to the lugs to vary their length, and electricbulb sockets connected with said branches.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

CARL J. L. FISCHER.

